1. People who believe in the existence of God based on reason and nature rather than religious revelation or faith.
Usage: Plural of deist; Often used in historical contexts, especially regarding 18th-century Enlightenment thinkers

Examples

• Many deists of the Enlightenment rejected organized religion but believed in a creator God.
• The founding fathers included several deists who valued reason over dogma.
• Deists argue that God's existence can be inferred from the natural world.
• Unlike atheists, deists maintain belief in a supreme being.
• Voltaire and other French deists challenged religious authority during the 18th century.